Cop the Truth

New Home For Cop The Truth

2006-08-06T21:42:00.000-07:00

Introducing the new Cop The Truth.

It's bigger, it's badder, it's, well...pretty much the same, really.

We've moved (to www.CopTheTruth.Typepad.com), so please come over and say hello. The first drink is on me. Actually, I just had a glass of wine, so the first drink has been taken. Sorry!

Thanks to everyone who visited us here and took the time to comment, it's been greatly appreciated (yes, even you, "HC"). Your input has helped us make the decision to move on to a more advanced Cop. I hope to see you all at the new site (we even have new carpet there!). If you blogroll Cop, please update your blogrolls to link the new site.

This one will stay up just in case some vagabond wonders in off of the street, looking for shelter. Or in case some phreak, say a family member (like a sister or a brother-in-law) decides they like the b/w version of Cop better, and I have to switch back. Insufferable know-it-alls! Not that there's anything wrong with that.

This is like graduating high school. Except then, I had friends, and stuff. Oh, and a family that supported me. Oh, and there were a few hotties lingering around (you know who you are). Damnit, I promised myself I wouldn't cry!

It is said that, when one door closes, another opens. Off to a new piece of sky!

Once more into the breach, dear friends, with nary a whimper!

Godspeed.

U.S. And France Agree

2006-08-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

FOX News has this story about an apparent agreement at the U.N. Security Council that will call for an end to the fighting in the Middle East. The agreement "calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations," according to the AP.

The U.S. agreed to the draft after it guaranteed Israel the right to self-defense and retaliation for any more Hezbollah attacks. It appears that the French may actually join in peacekeeping duties, so the terrorism alert above is published for their protection. Unless, of course, they send in the FFL, which is the only "French" entity I have any respect for.

What we really need is a resolution from the U.N.S.C. ordering Hezbollah to disarm and disband.

Oh. Wait, never mind.

U.S. Troops to Lebanon?

2006-08-04T22:36:00.000-07:00

October 1983 was a month I'll never forget.

On October 23rd, I was commanding a small team of troopers who were conducting vehicle inspections at a missile site in West Germany. Car bombs were all the rage at the time, and there were two very active terrorist groups in Germany that liked making things go boom. As I helped inspect a civilian contractor's vehicle, one of my trooper's ambled up with a very serious expression on his face.

"Sarge, phone call. It's battalion."

Lovely. Like I need to talk to some Major who has nothing better to do than sit around and think up stuff for some young buck Sergeant to do. A few minutes later, I briefed my team that the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, had been bombed. Naturally, it was a car bomb. 241 Marines and other servicemen were killed that day. Our security ramped up immensely after that.

Two days later, the invasion of Grenada was launched, co-spearheaded by a unit that I had just PCS'd from.

For a long time, those two days haunted me. Grenada, because I knew that my unit had seen combat without me and that I had missed out on the fighting that I had been training for for so long. And Beirut, because I could still the faces of the Marines that they pulled out of those destroyed barracks. The ones who lived and the ones who died.

I learned to live with missing Grenada. Beirut, not so much.

Maybe it was the fact that we never seemed to do anything to retaliate for what happened to those brave men. As if we could ever do enough, or kill enough, to even the score.

So naturally, a story like this makes me nervous. The possibility that we could send more "peacekeepers" to Lebanon, however unlikely, scares me. We don't need more brave men and women sitting over there, under the auspices of the U.N., with big targets on our their backs.

Support Israel? Yes. And with combat troops, if necessary. But no more "peacekeepers." It's someone else's damned turn.

82nd Airborne Back To Afghanistan

2006-08-03T22:21:00.000-07:00

Stars & Stripes reports that the newly-formed 4th Brigade Combat Team will be re-re-deploying to Afghanistan. Details of the deployment have not yet been released. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team will be re-deploying to Iraq later this month, and, with two of the four Infantry Brigades gone, the 82nd Airborne will be hard pressed to fulfill its mandate of America's Rapid Deployment Force.

Civil War In Iraq?

2006-08-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

FOX News has this report about the testimony today of SecDef Rumsfeld and others before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Gen. John Abizaid, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Pete Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also testified. The entire event was something less than positive.

Senators Clinton and McCain in particular, both potential 2008 presidential candidates, put the witnesses through the ringer. All three men agreed that there have been setbacks in the war with Iraq, and that civil war is always a possibility, but they also suggested that victory can still be achieved.

Quotes from the hearing:

Rumsfeld: "Americans didn't cross oceans and settle a wilderness and build history's greatest democracy only to run away from a bunch of murderers and extremists who try to kill everyone that they cannot convert and tear down what they could never build. We can persevere in Iraq or we can withdraw prematurely until they force us to make a stand nearer home. But make no mistake, [extremists] are not going to give up whether we acquiesce to their immediate demands or not. Ultimately the sectarian violence is going to be dealt with by Iraqis."

Abizaid: "I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I have seen it." "I think there is a demand for military, political and diplomatic activities that move Iraq toward stability ... and I believe this current government, which is a four-year government, has that opportunity." "Iraq is only one part of a broader regional struggle underway. ... The vast majority of the people in the region do not want extremists to win,"

Pace: "Shiite and Sunni are going to have to love their children more than they hate each other. The weight of that must be on the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government." "We are a nation at war, fortunately most of our fellow citizens are not affected by that war every day. Our enemy knows they can not defeat us in battle, they do believe however they can wear down our will as a nation. They are wrong." Winning the global War on Terror "will not be easy, this will not be quick and this will not be without sacrifice, but we will persist and we will prevail."

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, in Baghdad: His government is "highly optimistic that we will terminate terrorism this year. The Iraqi forces will take over security in all Iraqi provinces by the end of this year gradually, and if God's will, we will take the lead."

I don't know what to think about this mess anymore. There is no doubt in my mind that our troops are fully capable of winning any conflict that they are involved in, but politics is taking a heavy toll here. Reality just isn't what it once was.

Part of me says just get out, and if they want to kill each other, as they have for thousands of years, then let them! Why should our brave men and women fight and die for something that many Iraqis don't seem to be willing to fight and die for? But I know that if we did pull out, we would be back there within ten more years, spilling more blood in the same old mud. And it would be much more difficult an endeavor the third time around.

Staying in Iraq to finish the job seems the only reasonable option. We cannot abandon all of our efforts there thus far, just because things are not improving vastly. We knew it would be a fight going in and it has been. But leaving now would only render worthless all of the sacrifice offered thus far. And I know that we can win, if the politicians and the negative news media will just shut up and let our troops prosecute their battle plans. But that's not about to happen, is it?

Also in Iraq, the completely worthless SecGen Kofi Annan wants the UN mission in Iraq extended for another year. Huh. What, exactly, is the UN doing in Iraq? Here's a hint: it's doing the same thing in Iraq that it's doing in Lebanon, Darfur, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Balkans, etc. In a word, nothing.

If the UN really wanted to do something, they could take over peace-keeping duties in Iraq, freeing US troops to return home. Wouldn't that be something?

Haditha Update

2006-08-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

Stars & Stripes reports that the initial investigation into the alleged massacre of innocent civilians by U.S. Marines is coming to an end. The report apparently supports the initial charges against the Marines. However, the investigation is continuing and no charges have been filed. Another phase of the investigation will look into the possibility that Marine Officers tried to cover up the incident.

Rep. John Murtha, D.-Pa., accused the Marines of cold-blooded murder in a statement on May 17th, and at least one of the Marines is firing back with a lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed against Murtha, alleges that he made false and defamatory statements against SSgt. Frank Wuterich when he accused him of murder and war crimes. The lawsuit seeks damages of not less than $75,000.00. Yahoo! News story.

This one is far from over.

Also blogging:
Old War Dogs: The American Warrior
The Captain’s Journal
Flopping Aces

The War On Terror

2006-08-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

Obsession: What The War on Terror Is Really About

If you don't understand how Islamic radicals can do the things that they do, you need to watch this video.

And if you don't believe that we are at war with them, you need to watch it twice, because they are certainly at war with us!

Thanks to Angel at Woman Honor Thyself for the heads up!

News For Potterheads

2006-08-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

Reuters reports that two of America's favorite authors, Steven King and John Irving, are begging Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling not to kill off the boy hero in the upcoming seventh and final book in the popular series.

The three writers appeared at a charity event at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

"I can resolve the story now and it's fun in a way it wasn't before because finally I've reached my resolution, and I think some people will loathe it and some people will love it, but that's how it should be," said Rowling.

She is reportedly "well into" the final book, but is making no promises about the fate of the now-famous trio. "We're working toward the end I always planned but a couple of characters I expected to survive have died and one character got a reprieve." She would not provide more details.

The Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie is scheduled for release next July, and fans are already counting down. The final book is expected late next year or early in 2007.

American Public Trusts Our Military and Police

2006-07-31T22:11:00.000-07:00

In June, USDoD released this press release via the Armed Forces Information Service. It seems that, according to a Gallup poll conducted in May of this year, 74% of those who took part in the survey said that they "have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the military - more than in a full range of other government, religious, economic, medical, business and news organizations." Police officers ranked second in the poll, gaining 63% confidence level. Both the military and police officers ranked above banks and even organized religion.

Surprisingly (that's sarcasm, folks), big business and Congress tied for the second and third lowest rankings in the poll.

Who was the lowest?

Yup, you guessed it: mainstream media, such as television and newspapers.

Now raise your hand if you've heard anything about this poll before now.

I didn't think so.

The Truth of the Matter...

2006-07-30T22:31:00.000-07:00

Meet The Real Mel Gibson

2006-07-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

I confess, I love the movie Braveheart. I chuckled through the Lethal Weapon series and thought Mad Max was a nice, wholesome family movie. Maybe that makes me a Mel Gibson fan, maybe not. But I found the emerging facts of his recent DUI arrest disturbing.

Consider these partial pages of the police report, courtesy of TMZ. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Office reports that, after Gibson was arrested, he went on an anti-semitic rant, exclaiming, among other things, that "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." Now that's news to me. Maybe Gibson knows more about world history than I do.

Gibson also threatened the arresting officer and insulted a female officer. The day after his arrest, Gibson's image people went into spin control, and had him apologizing for his comments and behavior. Too late ~~asshole~~ buddy. Time to go the way of your pal, Danny Glover

I, for one, will not attend your movies in the future, or support any project you are involved in. I hope every police agency and association follows suit. I hope every parent whose children watch Disney programming follows suit. I hope that intelligent, fair-minded, unprejudiced movie-goers everywhere express their contempt of your conduct and hate speech and threats by boycotting all of your projects.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is America!

New 9/11 Plot?

2006-07-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

I found this article from CBS News interesting. It concerns a Saudi Arabian citizen named Rayed Abdullah. Abdullah is the former roommate of Hani Hanjour who, as we all know, piloted the plane that flew into the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001. Abdullah was also taking flying lessons in the United States, and was one of the terrorists named in the now famous "Phoenix Memo," which warned, two months before 9/11, that al Qaeda might be planning attacks against aircraft in the U.S. Abdullah was never charged with anything related to 9/11, and later left the country.

Since then, he has entered New Zealand, with a false passport and name, with the "intention" of studying English. After entering New Zealand, he applied to several flight schools, and tried to get a commercial pilot's license. He ultimately was arrested and deported from New Zealand as a "national security threat." He returned to Saudi Arabia, where he was detained and released. He has, since then, vanished.

So my question is this: why is this scumbag still breathing? Why hasn't Delta, or the CIA, or a CAT unit killed this guy and spared us whatever sick and twisted evil he may be planning? We have seen more al Qaeda messages of late, are they trying to re-assert themselves in the midst of the turmoil in the Middle East, or are they signalling people like Abdullah?

Maybe Abdullah has since re-entered the U.S. through our wonderful southern border. Or maybe his "vanishing" act is more than a coincidence. Maybe the Saudi's did us a favor and sent him along to his blessed virgins.

Whatever Abdullah's ultimate fate, we need to be much more proactive in dealing with these people. When we find them and their intentions are clear, overt act or not, we need to apply the "ounce of prevention" principle. Kill them, not capture them. That way, we don't offend anyone by sending them to Gitmo.

How Not To Beat A Traffic Ticket

2006-07-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine directed me to this article about how to talk your way out of a traffic ticket, from SmartMoney.com. These articles pop up periodically, and I always laugh when I see them. However, this article is worse than most, so I had to take a moment to comment.

Obviously, the author of the article, Kelli B. Grant, never bothered to interview the people with the greatest knowledge of the subject: police officers. And the article assumes that every cop you talk to is dumber than a doorknob, a dangerous assumption that is rarely true. But the article does have a few good points, so let's give credit where it's due.

Grant is correct when she says that tickets will adversely affect your auto insurance rates, especially moving violations like speeding, reckless driving, unsafe passing, etc. And if you're under the age of eighteen, your premiums will really skyrocket. And paying those hefty fines isn't fun, either.

Grant also writes that "there are many alternative ways to get out of a ticket. Mastering these skills is bound to prove financially rewarding." She then suggests these pathetic strategies:

Name dropping: Grant suggests that you hand the officer another police officer's card to gain favor. But in truth, this rarely works. The officer who stopped you doesn't care that you live next door to someone whose sister knew a girl that dated a cop. Most officers will politely look at the card, hand it back to you, then proceed to write your ticket. And the cop that cited you is going to track down the other officer and tell him/her you were dropping their name, which also can come back to bite you in the ass. Chances of success with this strategy, in my opinion: less than 10%.
Play dumb and feign ignorance: Also not a good strategy. You know what you did wrong, and so does the officer. When you play dumb, the officer will usually see it as lying, which means you have absolutely ZERO chance of getting a warning. "The cop might have you for speeding for example, but not notice that you've got a blown-out headlight." Hmm. The cop has you for a $250 dollar speeding ticket, but you got away without a "fix-it" ticket for the headlight. Brilliant. Chances of success: Zero.
Kiss up and don't argue: This is good advice to a certain extent. I don't recommend "kissing up" because it sounds insincere and obvious. Saying "yes sir/no sir" is fine, since some respect and humility are in order, but don't go overboard. And never argue, because you will not win. The place to argue is court, not on the side of the road. Every cop knows that the most dangerous place to be is next to your window, so they don't want to stay there long. Arguing is not on the menu. Chances of success: 20%.

Now that you know how NOT to act, you might try this: be polite and do exactly what you are told to do. Don't argue, don't name drop, don't cry, don't flash your boobs (we'll look, but you'll still get a ticket). I think that the best way to get out of a ticket is to simply tell the truth. "I know I was speeding and I'm sorry" is much better that the "Who, me?" routine. You may still get a ticket, but at least you will have gained a measure of respect from the officer. And you can always ask for a warning, as Grant suggests. Maybe it's your lucky day.

Remember that traffic cops may make fifty or more traffic stops per shift. Any cop who has been on the job more than a year will have heard every excuse, every sob story, every con job. Traffic cops will rarely give a warning for a moving violation, but you might get lucky if a patrol officer stops you. They usually have a lot going on and your honesty and courtesy may just buy you a warning.

When you get to court to fight your ticket, plead not guilty, as Grant suggests. But remember that most traffic citations are a simple matter of your word against the officer's. And your word is now highly biased. The officer will present his/her training and experience, in addition to radar documents, speedometer calibration documents, photographs, etc. as evidence. Many police agencies also are A/V equipped now, so you expect video and audio tapes of your stop. And most importantly, the officer has academy training on how to testify, in addition to many hours in front of traffic court judges, most of whom the officer already knows. And you can bet that judges will take the officer's prior court appearances into consideration. All of this works against you.

You should go to court prepared. Take whatever documents you have (photographs, speedometer verification, etc.) and present your case calmly and politely. A police officer's notes are their own. You may ask to see them, but I wouldn't count on it. Tell the truth from your point of view and hope for the best. If found guilty, you can then ask for traffic school or a fine reduction, either of which you'll likely get if you behave properly.

My best advice is to obey traffic laws and make every attempt to drive safely. Then, you'll not only avoid a ticket, but you'll eventually get wherever you happen to be going. If you are stopped, be polite and co-operative, tell the truth, but be prepared for the ticket you are probably going to get. Don't complain or argue or try to talk yourself into a jail cell. Accept responsibility for your actions and understand that we are trying to keep you, and everyone else on the road, as safe as possible.

See you on the road.

Now This Is Scary

2006-07-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

Anyone who will get drunk with Hillary Clinton is a braver man than I am. Yikes! Hasn't McCain already suffered enough?

POW/MIA Updates

2006-07-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

I found this recent post at One Marine's View, detailing the continuing search for Army Sgt. Matt Maupin, the only U.S. servicemember still missing from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Insurgents claimed to have murdered Maupin in June, 2004, but those reports have not been confirmed. Maupin is still listed as POW/MIA.

LtCmdr. Michael Scott Speicher crashed his F-18 Fighter in Iraq during the first Gulf War in 1999. He apparently survived the ordeal and was taken captive by Iraqi forces. He is the only casualty of that war still missing, and is listed as POW/MIA.

We haven't forgotten.

Leave no man behind.

Ben Stein, You Old Softy!

2006-07-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

Ben Stein wrote an article called America! and it's at The American Spectator. Go check it out. And if you disagree, you're visiting the wrong blog. And living in the wrong country.

Middle East News

2006-07-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Australian peacekeepers are being recalled from the U.N. "peacekeeping" mission in southern Lebanon. Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said that "it is very important that Australians appreciate, no matter how affronted we are by what Israel is doing, that they are dealing with Hizbollah and Hamas who are committed to the abolition of Israel as a state. But at the moment let us hope an appropriate longstanding resolution comes to this conflict. We can't afford to have a situation where bandaids are being applied to it again." Good on ya, mate! Love those Aussies!

UN SecGen Kofi Annan backed down from yesterday's moronic assertion that Israel deliberately attacked and killed UN "peacekeepers" in Lebanon. "I am shocked and deeply distressed by the apparently deliberate targeting by Israeli Defense Forces of a U.N. Observer post in southern Lebanon,” Annan said in a written statement yesterday. “I call on the government of Israel to conduct a full investigation into this very disturbing incident and demand that any further attack on U.N. positions and personnel must stop,” he said in the statement.

Today, however, there are new facts regarding the incident. Michelle Malkin has a post up that demonstrates how UN "peacekeepers" are used as a shield by Hezbollah terrorists. She also reports that several missiles had been launched from the area before the position was hit by the Israeli's. Annan's position in all of this is troubling to me. He is condemning Israel, demanding a cease-fire, yet he seems oblivious to the fact that the Israeli's are fighting for their very existence against an enemy that attacked them without provocation. The UN is growing more impotent by the day.

Here's a great post on the subject: Flopping Aces: Who’s Fault Is It Again Kofi?

FOX news reports that the U.S. has blocked a UN Security Council statement that would have condemned Israel for the bombing of the UN security post.

Haaretz/Israel News reports that Israeli troops are incurring more losses in the fighting among mounting rumors of "friendly-fire" incidents, including the accidental downing of an IDF helicopter yesterday. Meanwhile, over 150 rockets were fired into Israel yesterday by Hezbollah terrorists, the largest number yet.

This isn't going to be over any time soon, folks.

The Cost Of Freedom

2006-07-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press has this story today about the Velez family, of Lubbock, Texas. Their story will not bring you to tears, but will fill you with pride, as well.

On November 13, 2004, Army Spc. Jose A. Velez was killed in action during the battle for Fallujah, Iraq. He had been a member of the 1st Cav. out of Fort Hood, Texas. He was 23 years old. After his death, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

His younger brother, Andrew, was also in the Army. After the death of his older brother, Andrew was offered the chance to avoid combat duty, but he declined. Andrew Velez wanted to return overseas to fight for his country. "You always do it for your buddy next to you," Andrew Velez told his father.

In June, the family's home in Texas was burglarized and Jose Velez' combat medals were stolen. They were replaced by the DoD just this past Monday. On Tuesday, the Velez family learned that Andrew had been killed in Afghanistan. He was 22, and had three young children.

When I read this story, I was reminded of a letter Abraham Lincoln once wrote (which was showcased in the movie Saving Private Ryan). A mother in Massachusetts had reportedly lost five sons in combat during the Civil War, and President Lincoln was asked to write her a letter of condolence on behalf of the Unites States Army. Here are the contents of that letter:

Executive Mansion,Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant
General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died
gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt
to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain
from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the
Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your
bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost,
and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice
upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln

After the letter was printed in the newspaper and made famous, it was learned that only two of the sons had been killed in combat. One had deserted the Army, one died a prisoner of war, and one was later honorably discharged. The mother, Mrs. Lydia Bixby, promptly destroyed the letter, since she was a Confederate sympathizer and hated Lincoln vehemently. Copies of the letter have been widely circulated, and many collectors paid handsomely for a forged copy, believing it to be authentic.

The above paragraph notwithstanding, the pure emotion and heartfelt respect in President Lincoln's letter cannot be argued. And it certainly applies to the Velez family some 140 years later.

May they find peace.

Whew! That Was Close!

2006-07-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

Richard Allen Davis, the murderer of 12-year old Polly Klaas more than ten years ago, nearly died of an overdose today at San Quentin Prison, where he is serving his sentence. Thankfully, he was revived by the prison medical staff, and is expected to recover. I would hate for him to die before he served every single second of his sentence. After that, the ~~asshole~~ guy can die anytime he wants. Cheers, Richard!

A True Man Of Honor Dies

2006-07-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

CNN is reporting that Carl Brashear, 75, has died of respiratory and heart failure. Brashear was the first black Navy diver and served thirty years in the Navy, even after losing a leg while recovering a hydrogen bomb off of the coast of Spain in 1966. He was the sole inspiration for the movie "Men Of Honor." Cuba Gooding Jr., who played Brashear in the movie, said today that "The African-American community lost a great leader today in Carl Brashear."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Rest in peace, brother. H/T to Matt and Tracy.

Bruce Lee To Get Factual Biography

2006-07-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

I was watching a special on Bruce Lee the other day with my son, and started thinking about what an influence he's had upon me. When I was a kid, I remember training in Kenpo Karate with a friend of mine. His instructors were both world champions, and he would go to class, then teach me every thing that he had learned. Not the best way to learn Kenpo, but it was a start. I had heard of Bruce Lee by that time, but really knew nothing about him. All that changed one day at the movies. When Game of Death came out in 1978, I went to see it with my Kenpo friend and was hooked.

It wasn't so much about the fight scenes, although the combat with Danny Inosanto is some of the most incredible ever filmed. It was more about his presence, about the way he moved and made you believe he could do anything. It was also my first exposure to the philosophical side of the martial arts, but hardly the last. I think I saw GoD five times in the next month, and I rushed right out and bought a copy of Tao of Jeet Kune Do. Soon, the walls of my room were covered with Bruce Lee posters (they were right next to the Farrah Fawcett ones), and I had read Tao cover to cover several times. There weren't a lot of JKD schools then, so it was Kenpo until I joined the Army. In the Army, I went to one of those badass schools where they teach you the ugly stuff, and was first exposed to JuJutsu. The rest, as they say, is history.

Since then, I've trained in JuJutsu and Judo, Aikido, Gracie Jiu Jitsu and even Krav Maga. One of these days, someone will open up a local JKD school and I'll be in heaven. Until then, I have his movies to interpret, his books to read and study, and his philosophy to analyze.

And then I found this story about a new Bruce Lee biography film, but this one made with the consent and input of Lee's family. Lee, of course, died 33 years ago, and his son, Brandon, 20 years later. Their combined influence on the world of martial arts can never be gauged, and I, for one, can't wait to see the the new biography.

George Is Getting Angry!

2006-07-23T23:42:00.000-07:00

How Many Cops Does It Take To Shoot A Pit Bull?

2006-07-23T23:26:00.000-07:00

Well, here's your answer: at least four!

One to shoot the dog, and three more to shoot each other!

National Guard On Mexifornia Border

2006-07-21T23:37:00.000-07:00

The Army Times reports that the National Guard mission to help secure the southern border with Mexico is nearing full strength. Now if we could only give them a legitimate mission, like, say, actually closing the border or building a fence that will actually keep people out.

Maybe then there wouldn't be stories like this, courtesy of Michelle Malkin.

Or this story, from The Conservative Voice, about the Border Patrol seizing over a million pounds of narcotics in the last nine months, alone. That's almost enough for a Hollywood party!

Here's a report from ICE about the increase in smuggling of counterfeit pharmaceuticals into the U.S..

We do, however, need more stories like this one, about Customs officials arresting illegal aliens attempting to access Fort Bragg, North Carolina, one of our most critical bases in the GWOT.

And it seems that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's appeal among Hispanic voters has taken a dive, lately. Apparently, they don't like his support of the Minuteman Project. We'll have to wait and see if Arnie caves in to gets the Hispanic vote, or if he sticks to his guns and does the right thing for all of America.

Maybe we need more cities like Hazelton, Pa., which I discussed in this post: Cities Take On Illegal Immigration. And here's another post about the subject: Close The Border Already!

Maybe President Bush is waiting for another Pearl Harbor moment to galvanize the country and finally do the right thing, Hispanic votes be damned. And maybe it won't be too late.

Day Twelve In Israel

2006-07-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

Reuters reports that a missing Israeli soldier has been found dead in southern Lebanon, but the Israeli's aren't releasing any more details at this time, according to Al Arabiya television.

The report comes at a time when mass evacuations are continuing and the IDF seems to be preparing for a ground assault. Incredibly, some Americans who were recently evacuated from Lebanon are complaining about the U.S. response to their plight. Of course, they were warned not to go there in the first place, and now the American taxpayer has spent at least $200,000 getting them out.

U.S. SecState Rice plans on going to the region soon, but won't be asking the Israeli's for a cease-fire. "We do seek an end to the current violence, we seek it urgently. We also seek to address the root causes of that violence," Rice said. "A cease-fire would be a false promise if it simply returns us to the status quo." She also said that Syria "knows what it needs to do, and Hezbollah is the source of the problem."

Not much support for Hezbollah there.

U.N. SecGeneral Kofi Annan demanded an immediate cease-fire, but apparently offered no comment on why the UN did nothing to prevent the war in the first place. Perhaps he's forgotten about UN Resolution 1559? Ah well, details.

The Jerusalem Post offers an interesting take on the Israeli military and its leaders.

Also blogging:

Where's McKinney? Not That Anyone Cares..

2006-07-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

FOX News reports that Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, a true Adam Henry, has missed nineteen votes this week, including votes on gay marriage, stem cell research and on banning "under God" from the pledge of allegiance. She will soon be facing a runoff for her seat in Georgia, and several police groups are supporting her opponent. Maybe striking a police officer wasn't such a great idea, after all. But then again, this picture says it all.

What Do The Troops Think?

2006-07-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

Stars & Stripes reports on a survey of deployed U.S. troops.

Overall, they gave their present missions around the globe a thumbs -up, but morale among the lower-ranking troops seems to be waning a bit.

Guess which part you'll see in the MSM?

Muslims v. The Terrorists

2006-07-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a great OpEd piece from Youssef Ibrahim, courtesy of USA TODAY.

Could it be that Muslims around the world are finally getting tired of hate groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and al Qaeda? Wouldn't that be something? If the "good Muslims" that we are always claiming not to be at war with actually stood up and told these terrorist scumbags to knock it off? Could it be that Muslim exremists are actually hurting Muslim and Arab causes the world over? Is it possible that Egypt and Saudi Arabia and Jordan and Bahrain are going to side with free and democratic people everywhere? What an amazing picture that would make. A couple of swift kicks to Russia and China, and then this could be one big blue fuzzy marble again.

As far as the rest of the world goes, Ethiopia may invade Somalia to stop Islamic militia. Well, both the U.N. and the U.S. failed, why not let Ethiopia give it a try? Here's more.

Israel continues to pound Lebanon, and many experts believe that Israel will prosecute a limited ground war within the week. Look for SecState Rice to put off a visit until sometime after that occurs. Go Israel!

Chechen rebels vow to continue efforts against Russia. Russia has also released a list of terrorist organizations. Seems that they aren't without their own troubles...

North halts inter-Korean reunions in protest of South Korea's decision to halt food shipments.

Blogs of War reports that India bans some blogs.

All in all, it was just another Tuesday. Let's hope Wednesday dawns brighter.

Navy Intel Officer Sentenced

2006-07-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

George Bundez II, a retired Naval Intelligence officer, was sentenced in San Diego today for selling aircraft parts that were ultimately destined for Iran. Bundez was caught selling parts for T-36 Trainer jets, F-5 fighters and Chinook helicopters to a Pakistani arms dealer, who was also convicted. In court, Bundez testified that the arms dealer "took advantage" of him. He was sentenced to one year in federal prison.

Time to bring back the firing squad!

The Ultimate Hotel

2006-07-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

I'm one of those guys who is always looking for the ultimate getaway, a remote and peaceful vacation spot free of noise, bustling crowds and chattering tourists. Then yesterday, I came across this: POSEIDON UNDERSEA RESORTS.

Yup, an undersea resort complete with 5-star amenities, including a revolving restaurant, a diver lock-out chamber and rooms with panoramic views of the undersea world around the resort.

The rooms will be about $1500 a night, which means that the only way I'll ever visit is if I find a rich girlfriend before the resort opens in 2007.

Yeah, I didn't think so, either!

Earthquake Causes Tsunami

2006-07-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Indonesia sent a six-foot tsunami smashing into the tourist resorts on Java Island, Indonesia, today, reports Fox News.

Early estimates there indicate that at least 100 people are dead, while scores are either missing or have fled to safety. The area was sit with a 6.3 magnitude earthquake some two months ago, killing nearly 6,000 people. After the quake, tsunami warnings were issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and parts of Bali and Australia saw waves up to eight inches high.

Rescue efforts in Indonesia are continuing.

Hezbollah In The U.S.?

2006-07-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a great post by Herschel Smith at The Captain’s Journal: Are we Prepared for Hezbollah Attacks in the U.S.?

It's no secret that there are terrorist cells operating in the North America. Some might be hiding amid the local populace, waiting to be activated. Some may be actively pursuing intelligence in and around potential targets. Others may be fully ready to implement whatever cowardly act they have been assigned. We have been lucky enough to expose and shut down some of these cells in recent months and years, but with the still open and porous border, there's no way to tell who is here and what their intentions might be.

The list of potential targets here is endless. Everything from military and government targets, to bridges, buildings and other civilian infrastructure, to targets with the highest potential for human loss, such as crowded theaters, shopping centers and schools. The possibilities are staggering, especially when you consider that terrorists want the biggest bang for their buck. That means lots of casualties with the maximum damage to our infrastructure, all highly sensationalized, exaggerated and replayed 24/7 by the media.

Clearly, law enforcement and the military cannot protect every potential target. Even Israel, where terrorist bombings among the populace are commonplace, must rely heavily on private security guards, which can be found at the entrance to bars, stores, theaters and bus station. And the presence of security personnel doesn't necessarily mean that the target will not be prosecuted. There have been numerous occasions of suicide bombers blowing themselves up as soon as they were confronted by security teams.

We cannot prepare for every eventually not protect every target.

Now, knowing that these cells are among us and that their ultimate goal is to wipe out whoever isn't them, we can reasonably assume that it isn't a matter of if, but rather when, they will strike us here at home. And with the aftermath of last year's hurricane season fresh in our minds, we all need to take steps to ensure our survival.

We all should have a survival kit ready and emergency plans for the family should any disaster strike us. If you need more information on how to prepare for an emergency, you can visit this Red Cross/CDC website. There's also a wealth of information at the Department of Homeland Security site.

Make preparations now, while it's still fresh in your mind. The U.S. has been bombarded with floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and wildfires in the last year, so having disaster preparedness kits and emergency plans at the ready is a must for every American. The threat of a terrorist attack is just one more thing to plan for.

UN Tut Tuts North Korea

2006-07-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

Reuters reports that the United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed to impose weapons-related sanctions on North Korea today, while simultaneously condemning DPRK's missile tests earlier this month. The resolution, which was immediately rejected by DPRK, also demands that North Korea suspend all ballistic missile related activities.

Little late for that, isn't it?

The sought-after Chapter 7 resolution, which would make the demands mandatory and provide for military action if they were not followed, was not imposed. However, several nations, including the United States, Japan and Britain, considered the language of the resolution tough and binding, despite the lack of Chapter 7. US Ambassador John Bolton said "the United States and other Member States have the opportunity at any point to return to the Council for further action."

Bolton also said that the resolution demands that North Korea "suspend your ballistic missile program; stop your procurement of materials related to weapons of mass destruction, and implement your September, 2005 commitment to verifiably dismantle your nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs."

Here are some of the demands from the resolution, from Reuters. The UNSC:

Registering profound concern at the DPRK's breaking of its pledge to maintain its moratorium on missile launching ...
Expressing grave concern at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea launch of ballistic missiles, given the potential of such systems to be used as a means to deliver nuclear, chemical or biological payloads ...
Demands that the DPRK suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program, and in this context re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launching;
Requires all member states, in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, to exercise vigilance and prevent missile and missile-related items, materials, goods and technology being transferred to DPRK's missile or weapons of mass destruction programs;
Strongly urges the DPRK to return immediately to the Six-Party Talks without precondition, to work toward the expeditious implementation of the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement, in particular to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs, and to return at an early date to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards ...

The UNSC met for days and came up with that? And we need the UN why? The next time DPRK fires missiles at our allies, maybe the USNC will use a curse word or two, like "darnit" or "dagnabbit" before saying all of the above. Pointless, really. The North Koreans will continue to do whatever they want, despite the above resolution, just as they always have.

Granted, options are limited. It seems to me that our only choice to avoid a major conflict with these people is to somehow earn the support of the Russians and Chinese, who seem to be able to exert major influence over these people. Quick, Las Vegas, what are the odds of that happening?

But let's look at another opinion on this. Read this partial interview transcript from a July 14, 2006, Hannity and Colmes interview of Reverend Franklin Graham, one of only a few Americans who have actually visited North Korea. Very interesting.

I also find it interesting that DPRK has virtually vanished from the front pages of the MSM, in light of what's happening in the Middle East. More proof that Iran and North Korea are working together?

Cities Take On Illegal Immigration

2006-07-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times calls Hazelton, Pa., the "most hostile environment in America for illegal immigrants." Not surprising when you consider the left-wing politics of the paper, or the fact that Los Angeles in a "sanctuary city" where law enforcement officials will not enforce immigration laws. You see, Hazelton, Pa., has just passed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

The Illegal Immigration Relief Act "imposes severe penalties on landlords who rent space to illegal immigrants, suspends the licenses of businesses that employ them, and declares English the city's official language." The act, passed by a 4-1 margin, will put pressure on businesses that hire illegal aliens and the landlords that rent to them.

The measure was enacted after repeated complaints of graffiti and gang-related crime.

Several other cities around the country will soon be voting on similar measures, including Escondido, California.

Naturally, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund vows to sue the city on the "grounds that the ordinance unconstitutionally infringes on federal jurisdiction over immigration".

Stay tuned, folks.

Also check out:

Hey, Blogs Are Popular!

2006-07-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

iMedia reports on the popularity of blogs and has some interesting stats:

blogs grew by 56% last year and represent 34% of the internet audience
Blogger.com is the top blog network with 20.8 million visitors in May, 2006. MySpace.com Blogs were second.
Blog visitors tend to be from higher income families. Families with an income of $75,000 a year or more are almost 10% more likely to frequent blogs.

Go check it out.

War In The Middle East

2006-07-14T15:12:00.002-07:00

The situation in the Middle East scares me. It scares me because the ongoing war there isn't about about Israel vs. Hezbollah and Hamas, and it's not about three kidnapped Israeli soldiers. It's about radical Islam creeping across the globe. It's about the world being on the brink of catastrophic war. Yes, the stakes are high.

Hamas and Hezbollah are controlled by Syria, which is controlled, ultimately, by Iran. Iran gives, by some estimates, more than a $100 million dollars a year to Hezbollah, and Hezbollah is at the beck and call of the Iranian radicals. The recent incursions and hostage-taking by Hezbollah is the design of the Iranians (notice that the recent escalations started on the same day that Iran was supposed to respond to the UNSC). The Iranians want to take the heat off of themselves, and, at the same time, show the West that they do have muscles to flex. So, why not push Hezbollah and Hamas to start a Middle East war, and give themselves more time to develop nuclear weapons, while putting pressure on the U.S. at the same time? Aha!

Enter the Russians and the Chinese. They aren't saying or doing much publicly, and why should they? Anything bad for the U.S. and our allies is good for them. But our futures depend upon these two countries. We are at a point in world affairs where the Russians and Chinese MUST decide on which side they really belong. They want to be world players, and they know that ultimately, working with the U.S. and her allies can bring them into that realm. And there appears to be some indication, behind the scenes, they are responding to talks with the U.S.

Israel is an ally. We have publicly vowed to protect her, and President Bush today rejected demands for a cease fire. But if Israel needs us militarily, should we go to her aid? She is the military power in the region, and certainly capable of taking care of herself, but I think she is on her own here, at least publicly. With recent progress with China and Russia (regarding both the Iran and North Korea issues), I don't believe that we will leave a fingerprint in a Mid East war. Doing so would certainly jeopardize relations with China and Russia and, sadly, we need them now. But both China and Russia must do more to further the cause of democracy, and they must do it now. The entire world is watching and waiting.

More on the Mid East:

And, as an item of interst, what about the French? Where are they on all of this? In typical French fashion, they are backing the bad guys. French president Jacques Chirac today called Israel's offensive into Lebanon "totally disproportionate". Chirac openly agrees that Syria and Iran are behind the attacks: "I have the feeling, if not the conviction, that Hamas and Hezbollah wouldn't have taken the initiatives alone," he said. But he's still against Israel. What does that say about our pals, the French? In a word, enemy!

The Spanish, who folded like a deck of cards when they were attacked by terrorists in 2004, joined the French in condemning the Israeli's. Spanish PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told Punto Radio "One thing is defense, which is legitimate, and another is a counteroffensive of widespread attack. It won't bring anything other than an escalation of violence." He must have been reading over Chirac's shoulder. It's clear that we cannot count on them, anymore, either.

The United Nations Security Council discussed the issue but took no action on Lebanon's call for a cease-fire. Comments there included, via Yahoo! News:

US Ambassador John Bolton: "Syria and Iran must be held to account for supporting regional terrorism and their role in the current crisis. All militias in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, must disarm and disband immediately."

"We are meeting in the shadow of a widespread barbaric aggression waged by Israel against my nation," Lebanese representative Nouhad Mahmoud said, adding that the Israeli action was aimed at "bringing Lebanon to its knees and subverting it by any means."

Israel's UN ambassador, Dan Gillerman, responded by calling Lebanon a breeding ground for terror and said Israel had "no choice' but to react to the "unprovoked" attack on its soldiers and rocket attacks on its territory. "Israel's reactions were a direct response to an act of war from Lebanon. I believe that most members around this table, as well as many in this chamber, including our neighbours, realise this reality."

Let's see what tomorrow brings.

All Over But The Shoutin'

2006-07-13T23:01:00.000-07:00

You ever get those emails from a friend or family member that say "Hey, check this out"?

I do. All the time. And it's usually a bunch of fat guys in speedos doing a "Topless Car Wash" or something like that. Ew.

But then a rare gem comes along.

A former SFer sent me something that I immediately fell in love with. When I went to the site, I also found some of the giants in Milblogging had already been there. No wonder I was never a Pathfinder.

Check it out, you'll be glad you did. Trust me. Homemade Sin: "The Boys" got new clothes

Also blogging:

Old War Dogs (I'm a huge Russ Vaughn fan)
BLACKFIVE: "Hanging Out With The Boys"

Hey Al, You were Right!!

2006-07-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

Middle East War Continues....

2006-07-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

Apparently, my blog, and this post specifically, aren't required reading for Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria.

Yahoo news has just reported that the war in the Middle East has escalated even further. Israel has set up a naval blockade, and has used air strikes to hit several targets in Lebanon, including airports and army airbases. Israel has also attacked other targets in recent days, including Hezbollah's TV studios and foreign ministry buildings. At least 50 people have been killed so far.

Incredibly, Hezbollah chose to up the odds earlier today by firing more than 100 rockets into Israel, including one lone-range rocket that reached the city of Haifa. Then they immediately denied that they had done so, but warned that they did have the capability.

Where I come from, we call that a mistake.

Daniel Ayalon, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, said that rocket attack on Haifa was "a major, major escalation." And David Baker, from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, said that "those who fire into such a densely populated area will pay a heavy price."

Israel seems to have had enough, this time, and their response to the Haifa rocket attack is continuing.

President Bush blamed the current situation on Hezbollah terrorists and acknowledged that Israel has a right to support herself. "The soldiers need to be returned," he said. "It's really sad where people are willing to take innocent life in order to stop that progress (for peace). As a matter of fact, it's pathetic." He also warned that Syria needs to be held accountable for sponsoring and supporting groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Fox News story

Lebanon has asked the U.N. Security Council to step and stop the Israeli attacks, and the U.N. should get to that right after they for all the unpaid parking tickets their diplomats have accrued in New York. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he would send three officials to the Middle East to try to de-escalate the situation (and collect bribes).

Neither side will back down in this one, and I don't think Israel is about to do prisoner swaps with these folks. In fact, I don't think this is even about those three hostages anymore. I think Israel has finally gotten to the point where they feel that they have stop these terrorists for good. The situation is rapidly deteriorating and could draw much of the Middle East into the conflict, including Iran, Lebanon and Syria. And the president has made it clear that we will support Israel, should it become necessary. This one is only going to get worse, so we'd better pay attention.

Also blogging:

Quote of the Day

2006-07-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

"I think we should take Iraq and Iran and combine them into one country. Call it Irate! All the pissed-off people can live in one place and just get it over with."

Denis Leary

That's for Katey at - Katey's Kafe-, who just joined the blogroll. Stop by and say hello.

ACLU Wants Porn For Prisoners

2006-07-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Two convicts, I mean inmates, are suing the Indiana Department of Corrections over a new policy that bans adult magazines and other printed material that depicts nudity or sexual content. It seems they really want their Playboy, Easyriders and Hustler.

"The policy is written so broadly that it includes within its prohibitions such things as personal letters between prisoners and loved ones and much of the world's great literature and art," says the complaint, filed by the good old ACLU of Indiana on behalf of two murderers.

Yup, Hustler ranks right up there with A Tale of Two Cities and The Nike of Samothrace.

Here's a tip: don't murder people, then you'll stay out of prison, and you can subscribe to whatever you want! Thanks ACLU!

FOX News story.

Damnit, We're Serious This Time!

2006-07-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

Note to Hezbollah.....

Israel doesn't seem to be kidding around this time!

Hezbollah guerrillas launched a cross-border raid today that lead to the capture of two more Israeli soldiers, and the deaths of several others.

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert called the raid an "act of war by the state of Lebanon against the state of Israel" and promised a "very painful and far-reaching" response.

And Syria wants to play, too: "Occupation is what provokes the Palestinian and Lebanese people," said Syrian VP Farouq al-Shara.

PM Olmert has called an emergency cabinet session, as has the Lebanese cabinet.

I guess we'll see who blinks first.

Reuters story.

Allies Facing Terrorism Threat

2006-07-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

USA TODAY reports on the new terror threat levels being adopted by Britain. The new threat assessment system is similar to that used by the U.S., except that citizens will not be notified when the threat level changes, as they are in America. The public, however, may check government websites for updates to the threat level.

The Sydney Morning Herald says that Muslim extremists are flooding Sydney web sites and chat rooms with support for Islamic terrorists. It seems that at least some Muslims intend to turn Australia into an Islamic state.

The Toronto Star has an interesting piece today about the morale of Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan. Retired MG Lewis Mackenzie, formerly of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, cautions against confusing a soldiers normal "gripes" with a lack of morale. "You can be really pissed at the mission, or whatever, but your morale is still high. You're with your buddies, you're doing your job, you're very professional, you're gung-ho."

Train Bombing In India

2006-07-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

My friends at Redneck's Revenge have a new post up about today's train bombing in India that have killed at least 150, and injured some 400 more. It seems that Pakistani extremists in the Kashmir region are high on the list of suspects. You can find more details at The Times of India.

America, Meet Your Enemy

2006-07-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not one who likes to do things for shock value alone. I'm a simple guy, really, and I like a simple life. I've been serving my country since I was 17, as a soldier and then a cop. Maybe I've earned some easy time, I don't know. My philosophy as a young Paratrooper was simple: I served my country in the same spirit as the men and women who had done so before me, and I did it with pride. And I hoped that my service, OUR service, would one day mean that my kids would never have to hear a shot fired in anger. Well, the kids are in high school now, and that hope is fading fast.

One of the first rules of warfare is know thy enemy. I learned this philosophy in the 82nd Airborne from fantastic Sergeants and the best Battalion Commander in the Army. I later taught this philosophy to my troopers as a young NCO. I've taught a similar philosophy to many, many police officers, and I teach it to my martial arts students.

Sun Tzu once said that "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."

So it is in that spirit that I share this link with you: The Jawa Report: Beheading Desecration Video of Dead U.S. Soldiers Released on Internet by al Qaeda (Video/Images).

The video and pictures come from an internet site used by al Qaeda to promote their brand of hatred and filth.

Don't click that link lightly. Don't look at those pictures or that video unless you really want to meet the enemy that our troops in Iraq are facing everyday. But if you really want to see what we are up against, then be my guest.

We should know by now, shouldn't we? I mean, what kind of fanaticism does it take to fly a plane full of people into a building? What kind of hatred and rage does it take to blow up innocent women and children? These people are evil, and they mean to kill every single one of us if they can.

I think Americans need to see this. Maybe then more of us will understand what we are doing in Iraq, and around the world, and why it's so critically important that we beat these bastards.

Related post: PFCs. Menchaca and Tucker Funerals

It's Monday And I'm Lazy

2006-07-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

New links!

Stop by and say hello to The Drunken Samurai at Peace Through Strength. Swords are optional.

And visit Curt and the team at Flopping Aces. He's a Cop and a former Marine, but a good guy despite all that!

Major Dad was cursed by a classical education, but still gets it right!

If you aren't reading Blogs of War, you should be.

And a special thanks to Lisa and Chris at Two Babes and a Brain for the shout-out. Lisa lives in the mountains of North Carolina, and you know what they about mountain girls! Now if I could only get them to send me an autographed copy of Colonel Hunt's book....

More Proof We'll Win In Iraq

2006-07-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

Army Spc. Justin W. Johnson, 22, from Rome, Georgia, was killed in Iraq on April 10th when his vehicle hit an IED. He had been in Iraq for twelve days. A highway interchange in Georgia was recenly named in his honor.

His father, Cpl. Joe Johnson, 48, of the Georgia National Guard, had initially planned to go to Iraq at the same time as his son, but a training accident two months earlier had prevented him from deploying. After learning of the loss, Cpl. Johnson volunteered to go to Iraq, intending to avenge his son's death. But when the elder Johnson got to Taji, Iraq, his point of view changed. He was deeply affected by the friendliness of the Iraqi people, especially the children, and the complete poverty in which they lived.

"I believe the Lord changed my heart because I do have a heart for the children," Johnson said after his son's funeral. "The kids changed me. I still had hate in my heart for Muslim people, for the insurgents, but the Lord changed me."

The elder Johnson, who had previously served in the Army and Navy and done missionary work in Central and South America, openly spoke of the joy he felt when he delivered candy and school supplies to Iraqi children.

"In a lot of the areas we went into, we weren't rebuilding the country, we were starting from scratch," he said. He also noted that the Iraqi people, by and large, were always happy to see American troops.

Another one of Johnson's son's is in the Army Special Forces, currently awaiting orders.

With troops like this, how could we possibly lose?

Things That Piss Me Off...

2006-07-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

Remember the days when people were nice and friendly and didn't sue each other for every minor trifle? When the words, "I'm sorry" or "Please excuse me" were enough? When lawyers didn't chase ambulances or advertise on t.v. for fall victims? Remember when one idiot was actually a minority and couldn't run roughshod over the rest of us? Here's a sampling of what I mean:

A San Diego lawyer named Alfred Rava actually filed a lawsuit recently regarding a Mother's Day giveaway at an Anaheim Angels baseball game. He felt that the giveaway, which offered a tote bag to women over the age of 18, discriminated against men, since they didn't get a tote bag, too. The class action lawsuit asks the Angels to pay $4,000.00 to every man that was in attendance that day. Minus the lawyer's cut and fees, I'm sure. The Angels have filed to dismiss the lawsuit. If you're a man who was traumatized by not getting a tote bag, you can join the lawsuit here. You don't even have to pick up a phone.

A woman in Georgia filed several complaints with the Gwinnett County Board of Education over the mega-successful Harry Potter series. The woman, who never read the books because they are "too long", complained that the books had "evil themes, witchcraft, demonic activity, murder, evil blood sacrifice, spells and teaching children all of this." Educators, parents and students shot down the idea of removing the books at a public hearing. The woman, naturally, is appealing.

In the City of San Diego, California, there sits the Mount Soledad National War Memorial. Atop the memorial sits a 29 foot cross. The memorial has been there for decades, and I remember visiting it as a boy when my father was stationed in San Diego with the Navy. Along comes Philip Paulson, a Vietnam Veteran-turned-atheist, who objects to the cross, a symbol of Christianity, being on public land. A lawsuit has raged for years and the the Supreme Court recently intervened to stop the removal of the cross, after a lower court had ordered the city to remove it or pay $5,000 a day in fines. Mind you, this is because one idiot objected, while San Diegans overwhelmingly support it.

And just wait 'til Christmas, when we have to wish people a "Happy Christma-Hannuh-Kwanzaka." Yikes, people, get a grip!

Deb Frisch Meets The Bloggers

2006-07-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

Having a PhD. in Psychology and teaching at the University of Arizona's Psychology Department sounds impressive, doesn't it? And you would think that such a person would be intelligent, fair-minded, even-tempered and knowledgeable about, well, Psychology. Not so fast!

Prof. Deb Frisch, of the above-mentioned Arizona University, recently took on a blogger she disagreed with, Jeff Goldstein. Her initial tirade directed at Jeff is nothing less than sick and psychopathic and it got worse from there (see Blogs of War post here). Then Froggy at BLACKFIVE, as well as several other MilBloggers, got involved. Now, poor Deb had been forced to resign from the University and slither off into the mulch to join Ward Churchill. She almost apologizes here but still seems to blame Goldstein for the whole thing.

She, of course, deserves everything she gets. To threaten the two-year-old child of another blogger, simply because you disagree, is the lowest form of filth. And we'll have to see if any criminal charges follow.

We'll keep an eye out for ole Deb, and see where she turns up next. Happy job hunting, Deb!

FBI Stops NY Bombing

2006-07-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press reports that three suspects have been arrested, but at least five more suspects are still outstanding. Apparently, the suspects were planning to bomb the Holland Tunnel, outside of Manhattan, and flood Wall Street in an attempt to disrupt the U.S. economy. The investigation is on-going, as is the search for the still-outstanding suspects.

Of course, that begs the question: why are we hearing about it?

Kristofferson Receives Star

2006-07-07T18:54:00.000-07:00

Singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson was inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk yesterday. Now I don't follow this kind of thing but Kris is a special case: he is also a former U.S. Army Officer, helicopter pilot and Ranger. I'll bet you didn't know that!

Columbine Massacre Details Released

2006-07-06T22:18:00.000-07:00

Fox News reports that nearly a thousand pages of documents, including diary pages and specific plans, were released today by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Ted Mink declined to release home videos made by the killers, however. The documents were released after a lawsuit by The Denver Post, although the Colorado Supreme Court ultimately left the final decision up to the Sheriff's Office. The move came more than seven years after the most horrific school shooting in U.S. history.

I find it impossible to believe that the parents of these two psychos didn't know that their kids were planning something like this. Parents like this are why abortion is legal.

Cindy Sheehan Hearts Hugo Chavez

2006-07-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

I admit to feeling some compassion for this woman. Her son, after all, gave his life in the service of this country, and she has earned her right to free speech. But what ever happened to her dignity and self-respect? She has turned into a prostitute and puppet for every whacko and extreme left-wing cause on the planet, and she doesn't seem to care!

This week, she started a hunger strike to demand that the U.S. immediately remove all troops from Iraq. She was immediately joined by the usual Hollywood whackos like Danny Glover, Susan Sarandon and Mr. Arms Inspector Sean Penn. When these folks are on your side, you know something's wrong! But not eating was apparently too much for our heroes, so they decided upon a "rolling hunger-strike." You know, the kind where you don't eat for a little while, then someone else takes over for you? Utterly laughable.

Today, while on the television show Hardball, she told guest host Norah O'Donnell that she'd rather live under Hugo Chavez in Venezuela that here under President Bush. Here's more:

O'Donnnell: "Americans may hate the war but they don't necessarily hate the president. How do you expect to get change by going around the world and trashing the President of the United States?"
Sheehan: "I don't hate the president either, and I don't trash the president. I trash the president's foreign policy."
O'Donnell: "But you called him the biggest terrorist in the world, so you are trashing the president."
Sheehan: "Well he says a terrorist is somebody that kills innocent men, women and children."

I, for one, think that if this greedy, attention-starved, left-wing whacko nutcase wants to move to Venezuela, we should take up a collection and buy her a ticket! Don't go away mad, Cindy, just go away!

And I say that with all of the respect in the world for your son.

Army Charges Watada

2006-07-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Army announced today that it will charge Lt. Ehren Watada with conduct unbecoming an officer, missing movement and contempt toward superior officers. If convicted, Watada could receive a dishonorable discharge and eight years in military prison. The Army has refused to let Watada resign his officers commission, and has not yet announced a date for court-martial proceedings.

Whatever Watada gets, it won't be enough.

North Korea On The Hot Seat

2006-07-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

It turns out that North Korea fired as many as seven missiles yesterday, all of which ended up in the Sea of Japan after relatively short periods of flight. Although the U.S. did not actively engage any of the missiles, the situation was monitored closely by NORAD. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said today that "each and every launch was detected and monitored and that the interceptors were operational during the missile launches that took place."

The U.N. Security Council met today to consider the problem, and, as usual, the Russians and Chinese were against any type of sanctions in response to the crisis. Japan, backed by Great Britain, the U.S. and others, is insisting on sanctions and strong actions by the U.N., but without the backing of China and Russia, the U.N., as usual, will do nothing. Yet another example of the U.N. having outlived its usefulness.

Most experts are claiming that the missiles, especially the inter-continental Taepodong II that the North Koreans test-fired, failed miserably. But how do we know that, without knowing the purpose of the test flights? We know that the North Koreans are developing plutonium. And the purpose of the Taepodong II delivery system is to deliver NBC payloads over long distances, so clearly, the North Koreans are trying to put the two together. And anyone who thinks that they are doing so just to get us to bargain with them is seriously delusional. Just ask Bill Clinton.

Quite simply, ladies and gentlemen, this is nuclear terrorism. The North Koreans are using the threat of nuclear missiles to effect policy change of the U.S. and other western nations. They want to deal with us directly, and are trying to ratchet up the stakes to gain more of what they want, whatever that is. And sadly, it's working.

We need to put the maximum amount of pressure on Kim Jong Il's regime, but I think we are past the talking stage here. Past the "they're only kids and they'll grow out of it" stage. You can't negotiate with people who don't keep their word, right Bill?

Sanctions won't work here, because they will only hurt the already starving North Korean people, not the military or the regime. China's fear is that, if the regime topples, all of the starving North Koreans will stream over the border into Manchuria, severely overwhelming the Chinese government. An equal number will probably flow into South Korea, as well. And our "friends" the French, Russians and Germans will just make deals behind our backs to benefit their own pockets. So sanctions are probably not going to be effective.

But what's left? Regime change? In a closed society like North Korea, developing agents or promoting an insurgency is not going to be a possibility. Military action? We definitely DO NOT want to engage these folks in a ground war. Pre-emptive strikes? Possibly, but who knows what they will do if we take out their missiles on the launch pad.

We're backed into a corner here, folks, and this one isn't going away anytime soon. I don't know what the answer is, but the outcome will affect the future of the entire world.

Happy 230th America!!

2006-07-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

Two hundred thirty years ago, fifty-six men changed the history of the free world. In signing their names to a document that announced their independence from Great Britain, those brave men set in motion the ideals that shaped this nation, proclaiming:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (Link: Declaration of Independence)

Today, we gather with family and friends, share food and company, celebrate the birth of our great nation, and honor those courageous men and women who have given their very lives for the United Stated of America. So grab a burger, sip a coke, thank a veteran and have fun!

Happy 230th America!

Special Forces Needs You!!

2006-07-04T16:25:00.000-07:00

While I am not a fan of USA Today, I did find this recent article interesting. It seems that the best-of-the-best, the Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces and Rangers, AF ParaRescue and CCT, all are facing troop shortfalls.

To hear the President's comments on the accomplishments of some of these great troops, read the speech he gave at Fort Bragg, N.C., the Home of the Airborne, today. What a great bunch of troops!

Also, check out these audio/video presentations for the Army Rangers and Army Special Forces.

Oh, to be twenty-five again!

North Korea Gets My Attention

2006-07-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

The North Koreans want our attention, and that of the entire world. Today, they got it. Initial reports are that North Korea has test-fired at least three missiles today, and one of them was the Taepodong II long-range missile that could, conceivably, reach the U.S. The three missile launches were first reported by Japan, but have since been confirmed by NORAD.

The first two missile launches appear to have been scud-type Rodongs, and both fell into the Sea of Japan. The third missile fired has been sitting on the launch pad for some ten days, while the DPRK posed and postured before the world. It apparently failed within minutes of being fired, and was not engaged by American patriot missile systems, since the U.S. was in no danger.
The timing is not lost on me. We in America celebrate our nation's birthday today, our 230th. And earlier today, Discovery was successfully launched for the first shuttle flight in over a year. It seems that the North Koreans didn't feel like sharing the spotlight today with the American people. They are-and have been for some time-engaged in a very serious game of one-upmanship with the free world, but today they set a whole new precedent.

For years, our policy was to talk to the North Koreans. "Diplomacy" I think it's called. And while we talked, North Korea has beefed up its military, developed nuclear weapons, and purchased dangerous and deadly technology from our "friends" the Chinese and Russians. There is also some indication that they have worked with the Iranians (see post Iran And North Korea United?). And now they are test-firing long-range missile technology. And the whole world was watching.

So now what? The Japanese must be terrified. They have repeatedly warned the North Koreans not to fire that missile, as have many other countries, including the U.S. But is it too late to demand sanctions from the U.N. Security Council? Will isolating them even further do any good? They already spend most of their money on their military while millions of their people are starving and living in darkness. Any sanctions will just hurt the innocent North Korean population even more, especially bans of food and medical aid (see CIA report and summary on DPRK). And their government will continue along their current path militarily, especially with Kim Jong Il in charge. The same Kim Jong Il who last Friday threatened the U.S. with annihilation if the United States attacks pre-emptively.

It seems to me that, with the firing of that long-range missile, that major act of both defiance and intent, the DPRK has finally crossed a line that there can be no going back from. Now it's time for the rest of the world to act. Before it's too late.

Also blogging: Blogs of War; Captain's Quarters; Redneck's Revenge

New Friendly Fire Incident

2006-07-01T17:52:00.000-07:00

Pvt. Justin Davis, 19, of the Army's 10th Mountain Division, was killed on June 25th in the eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan by indirect fire, and now his loss is being investigated as a possible friendly fire incident. The Army reported earlier this year that friendly fire deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan total some seventeen losses in eleven separate incidents, the most notable of which was Army Ranger Pat Tillman, whose death is still under investigation.

Cindy Sheehan take note: Paula Davis, Pvt. Davis' mother, told The Frederick News- Post the following: "We are holding up pretty well. He was passionate about joining the service. He would always say, 'This is my dream. I am going to follow it' ... He died doing what he loved. It was a calling," she said. "It was a life that fit him."

Fittingly, Pvt. Davis will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on July 10th with full military honors. Home at last.

The Frederick News-Post Story

What's Your Life Expectancy?

2006-06-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

The National Safety Council has computed your odds of dying from an accident or common injuries: Odds of Dying

I don't know about you, but I'm never leaving the house again....

Air Force To Study Blogging

2006-06-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

In a three-year, $450,000 project called “Automated Ontologically-Based Link Analysis of International Web Logs for the Timely Discovery of Relevant and Credible Information,” the US Air Force will try to determine if studying blogs can help fight the GWOT.

One of the problems scientists may encounter is the sheer volume of information availavble in the blogosphere. Dr. Brian Ulicny, senior scientist at Versatile Information Systems Inc. in Farmignham, Mass. says: "It can be challenging for information analysts to tell what’s important in blogs unless you analyze patterns."

Scientists will not only study the blogs content, but the hyperlinks, as well. The analysis will focus on the relevance, specificity, timeliness and credibility on important news events or topics. Dr. Mieczyslaw Kokar, president of VISI: “The fact that the web is a vast source of information is sometimes overlooked by military analysts. Our research goal is to provide the warfighter with a kind of information radar to better understand the information battlespace.”

U.S. DoD story link

More On The NY Times

2006-06-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

It looks like a lot of Americans are unhappy with the NY Times, the LA Times and the WSJ these days. And Bill O'Reilly is one of them. In last night's talking points memo, the Fox News host says that the only reason for the NY Times to print the story of covert money-tracking programs was toembarrasss the Bush administration.

The NY Times position appears to be "everyone already knew it, anyway". And Tom Brokaw, at least, seems to agree: "I don't know of anyone who believes that the terrorist network said, "Oh my God, they're tracing our financial transactions?" What a surprise. Of course they knew that they were doing that". Perhaps. But how do they know? Isn't it better tospeculatee that the terrorists have the information, then to publish the it and know for sure? And clearly not every terrorist knew about the program, since SWIFT has had some success. And if everyone "already knows", then how can it be news? So the question remains: why print it?

It seems that the NY Times was the lead on this thing, and that the WSJ and the LA Times got wind of the story just before publication and also ran with it. But all three "news" outlets had a common goal: to embarrasss the president and the military, and to limit our successes in the GWOT. Some experts believe that the folks at the NYT, LAT and the WSJ feel the Bush White House is more dangerous that bin Laden or even the larger war on terror. It seems to me that these folks have gotten out of the business on reporting the news, and into the business of politics and nation-shaping.

Obviously, I am all for freedom of speech, and the fact that you are reading this blog is evidence of that. And twenty-five years of military service and police work defending the Constitution of the United States in something that I don't take lightly. But, in time of war, some things do not need to be on the front page of the NY Times. In the military, we call it OpSec, or operational security, and it can be summed up as sharing information on a need-to-know basis, while giving due caution to who might be listening in on the information sharing process, i.e. listening in on phone calls, monitoring email, etc. It is the same philosophy that lead us to victory in WWII and countless other endeavors around the world.

There are some things that the American people don't need to know, and don't want to know, especially in time of war. Clearly, this was one of those times.

PFCs. Menchaca and Tucker Funerals

2006-06-28T20:09:00.000-07:00

Army PFC. Kristian Menchaca, who was kidnapped, tortured, murdered, then booby-trapped in Iraq last week, was laid to rest in Texas today (The Brownsville Herald story). It seems the nutjobs from the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church planned to attend in protest of the Iraq war, homosexuals and God's hatred for everyone but them. Also in attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders whose mission is to, upon invitation, try to shield the mourning family and friends from the aforementioned nutjobs and scumbags, while showing their support for the fallen servicemember.

Members from the famous 101st Airborne paid their respects, as did local law enforcement, firefighters, and the Border Patrol, which Menchaca had hoped to join after his service in the Army. Many members of the local community came out to line the funeral procession route, as well. PFC. Thomas Tucker, who was kidnapped with Menchaca, was buried over the weekend in Oregon.

Rest in peace, brothers. You've earned it.

Democrats Fail America Again.

2006-06-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Senate today rejected an amendment banning the burning of the American flag by one stinking vote. The House passed the measure last year.

Just to keep score, the following Dems. (and presidential hopefuls) voted against the amendment:

Sen. Hillary Clinton, NY
Sen. Joe Biden, DE.
Sen. John Kerry, Mass.
Sen. Christopher Dodd, Conn.
Sen. Russ Feingold, Wis.

Here's a synopsis of the amendment: Protect "Old Glory"

A Paratrooper's Faith

2006-06-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

As a young paratrooper, I remember having to conquer my fears again and again, and usually failing miserably. Soldiering, especially in the parachute infantry, is a difficult life, although quite rewarding in its own way. Anyway, I had this small book, almost a pamphlet really, called A Paratrooper's Faith. I think it was put together by some troopers parents during the Vietnam-era, but I'm not really sure anymore. It was a collection of inspirational quotes, poems, songs, etc. designed to both motivate and console the trooper in hard times.

My copy got dog-earred quickly, since I carried it in my cammies all the time, so it soon became necessary for me to move on to step two: creating my own edition. I don't know if the young troopers of today's Army still get them, but I often read through mine and still find the words comforting. One of my favorites was always this piece by Robert Service:

Give me to live and love in the old, bold fashion-
A soldier's billet at night and a soldier's ration.
A heart that leaps to the fight with a soldier's passion.

For I hold as a simple faith there's no denying,
The trade of a soldier the only trade worth plying;
The death of a soldier the only death worth dying.

Go 'til the word is war- and then you will find me.

Then you will call me and claim me because you will need me;
Cheer me and gird me and into battle wrath speed me;
And when it's over, spurn me and no longer heed me.

There's a glory gold never can buy to yearn and to cry for;
There's a hope that's as bold as the sky to suffer and sigh for;
There's a faith that out-dazzles the sun to martyr and die for.

To the warrior-poets of my youth, I hope it helps. Godspeed!

Close The Border Already!

2006-06-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

Here's just one more reason (as if we needed it) to close the border: Two Arrested After 56 Immigrants Found in Refrigerated Texas Trailer. And if that doesn't put things into perspective for you, read this: Illegal Alien Invasion Deadlier Than Iraq by Mac Johnson.

It's unbelievable to me that Gov. Schwarzenegger won't do more, when people like Sheriff Joe Arpaio are doing so much with so much less.

Here's a cool post from A Lady's Ruminations, complete with a great graphic of what a border fence should look like: Guard the Borders Blogburst. (You can click on the graphic to make it larger).

Our elected officials need to stop bickering, forget about votes and just do what's right for this country before things get any worse than they already are.

End of sermon.

Ward Churchill Gets The Boot?

2006-06-26T23:34:00.000-07:00

According to Fox News, the top official at the University of Colorado has recommended that Adam Henry Ward Churchill be fired (if you're wondering what an Adam Henry is, you're sitting on it). Churchill is a liar, a plagiarist and all around scumbag, but he can still appeal the decision to yet another committee for review. He is still hiding under that pesky First Amendment... you know, the one that says "thou art free to steal another's work; to lie to gain employment; to claim minority status when thou art not; to call thy brethren Nazis when thou art one." THAT pesky amendment.

Stay tuned yet again....

Those Goofy Iranians

2006-06-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

Damnit, here I am, snug in my own little world, posting about Iran and North Korea working together to plot the end of the world and The Captain throws this little change-up at me: Did Iran Help Bag Zarqawi? WTF? What are you doing to me, Captain???

Next you'll be telling me that Snape's a good guy!! (OK, so I'm a Potterhead...sue me!!)

Hey NY Times: STFU!

2006-06-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

Michelle Malkin does it again. Check out these awesome and updated WWII OPSEC posters. And visit The Truth Laid Bear for a special edition on the traitors in our midst. And now the blogger-verse responds. Visit:

Blogs of War; Redneck's Revenge; Knowledge Is Power; Diary Of A Hollywood Refugee

And here's more:

The Media's War Against the War; PROSECUTE the New York Times says Rep. King

The NYT doesn't seem to care they we are at war, nor do they care about the brave men and women who are serving our country. It's time to stop the leaks and keep rags like the Times from putting our troops in danger.

Iran And North Korea United?

2006-06-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

According to a recent article in the The Christian Science Monitor, it seems clear that the Iranians and the North Koreans are teaming up, to some degree, to take on the free world. But whether they are working in conjunction with one another or simply monitoring each others efforts and weighing successes seems to be a matter of some debate. We know that North Korea has sold missile technology to the Iranians, and possibly even some nuclear expertise, but there doesn't seem to be any evidence that the two countries are discussing ways to work together in the pursuit of evil. At least, not yet.

A few weeks ago, while North Korea sat in darkness, Iran was pushing hard for uranium enrichment, finally gaining some concessions from the West if they are willing to abandon their nuke programs. The Iranians have said that they would like to wipe out Israel, and they seem to be working with Syria even more. Earlier this week, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he would visit Iran to pursue weapons deals because "Venezuela needs weapons to fend off a U.S. invasion" (Guardian story). Right.

Now it's North Korea's turn to be a nuisance, as they have fueled-and reportedly aimed at the U.S.-a missile that could reach Japan, and possibly the U.S. mainland. Japan has warned the North Koreans that testing such a missile will have serious consequences, and even U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan seems concerned. The U.S. and Japan have been running military exercises off of the coast of Guam, and will do so again off the coast of Hawaii next week. The DoD recently ran a successful missile defense test, and the general consensus is that we could knock a North Korean missile out of the sky, if necessary. Failing to do so, however, would not be a good thing.

A pre-emptive strike is possible, as the Reformed Chicks Blabbing point out, but then what? The North Koreans have an updated anti-aircraft defenses, thanks to China and Russia, no doubt. And we certainly aren't prepared to wage ground war there. "If the U.S. imperialists set another fire of war ... our army and people will finally settle our battle with the U.S. by mercilessly crushing and sweeping out the aggressors," said a report by the official Korean Central News Agency. Their position seems clear. And this doesn't help.

We blew this one years ago, with both Iran and North Korea. And now we seem to be running out of time. And options.

NY/LA Times Guilty Of Treason

2006-06-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read that correctly. Guilty of treason. You see, we are at war, and the morons at the NY Times, The Wall Street Journal and the LA Times have decided that they would rather be the story than just report it.

This past week, the NY Times reported that the U.S. Treasury Department has been delving into financial records to track money being sent to al Qaeda and other terrorists/organizations. In case you missed it, the U.S. was watching "financial footprints" by monitoring international money transfers, most of which are public information and are used by some 8,000 financial institutions. The system was designed to help catch drug dealers and organized crime folks who use the international banking system to transfer and launder money. Since 9/11, according to DoHS, some 1,600 terror-related accounts have been frozen, and some $150 million dollars have been seized worldwide. That's money that terrorists could have used to buy weapons, or recruit new scumbags, or buy their way into America to do who-knows-what.

The NY Times was asked by the Bush Administration not to go ahead with the story, but they did anyway. They did it because they wanted to show everyone that they knew what is going on and they don't like it. That's all. They wanted to stick it to President Bush and the military, and, in the process, the rest of us got it, too. The NY Times and these other "news" outlets don't care about Americans, they care about furthering their own brand of opinionated politics. And they don't care who gets hurt as a result of it.

And if you think their actions don't hurt every American, consider the opinion of FBI Director Robert Mueller, who recently commented on "the new brand of terrorism". Mueller, speaking at an event in Cleveland , said that "smaller, more loosely defined cells" are a growing problem in the U.S. And the NY Times is telling these groups how to avoid detection by publishing the confidential details of secret U.S. Government counter-terrorism programs. Ladies and gentlemen, the NY Times and their ilk are the helping our enemy.

The ladies at La Dolce Divas sum it up nicely here. Why do we need this program, and others like it? Read this post at Woman Honor Thyself. And the always brilliant Herschel Smith has a cool post at Letter to the New York Times. And Jo wants the "anonymous source" revealed and prosecuted. I couldn't agree more. And finally, this from American Lady.

We have met the enemy and he is the NY and LA Times.

Hussein Goes On Hunger Strike

2006-06-24T17:15:00.000-07:00

Oh, wait, it's over.

Saddam Hussein's hunger strike, to protest the murder of another one of his lawyers (Yet Another Lawyer for Saddam Hussein is Killed courtesy of The Southern California Law Blog), lasted one whole meal.

Look for Sen. Ted Kennedy to go on a similar hunger strike in opposition of the Iraq War.

No More Troops To Border

2006-06-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times reports that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has refused to send an additional 1,500 National Guard troops to help secure the border with Mexico. On June 1st of this year, Schwarzenegger agreed to send 1,000 troops to the border after a long standoff with the White House over who would pay for the border effort, but the Governor finally relented when the Pentagon agreed to foot the bill, estimated at $1.4 billion dollars.

The Governor's decision come at a time when he is facing re-election, while his support among Hispanic voters is dwindling. He has said publicly that he does not support "militarizing the border" and that he prefers to keep the 1,500 additional troops available for training and any possible disasters or emergencies.

But what this really about is votes. Not national security. Not the safety and welfare of all Californians or Americans. Just votes. Schwarzenegeer wants things both ways: he wants the support of the Bush White House come election time, so he agrees to send an insignificant number of troops to the border initially. And now, when the request for more troops comes, he can be seen as standing up to the White House by refusing, a move designed to gain Latino support.

But, as The Uncooperative Blogger reports, the numbers are staggering. There are between 12 and 25 million illegals here already, and more are coming to the tune of some 900,000 per year. llegal aliens get some $3 billion dollars a year in government assistance, although most of them do not pay taxes, accounting for billions of dollars in lost tax revenue. And if you believe that illegal immigration is a "victimless crime", read this piece by Michelle Malkin. And this one from
A Lady's Ruminations.

An overwhelming majority of Americans want immigration reform. They want the borders closed. They want to know who is coming into our country and for what purpose. They want migrants to obey our laws, pay taxes and learn to speak English. But still our elected officials refuse to do anything to improve the situation because they are afraid of losing votes.

Clearly, everyone knows the magnitude of the problem. And still, our elected folks on both sides seem to think that using the situation for political gain is more important than giving the American people what they clearly and overwhelmingly want. The situation will not go away, but will get even worse until something happens that angers the American people enough to force the government to take action, to the mutual benefit of all of us. Until then, we wait and hold our breath.

Watada Refuses Deployment Orders

2006-06-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that Lt. Watada, of "I think the war is illegal and I am not going to help fight it" fame, refused to depart Ft. Lewis for Iraq with his unit today. I can only hope that the U.S. Army will do the right thing and charge him with desertion, and confine him for a very long time. I might have the teeniest bit of compassion for a drafted private, but this guy volunteered to serve as an officer. Therefore, in my humble opinion, he is an opportunist and a coward, and he deserves everything that happens to him.

For more on Watada, visit: The Violence Worker!

McKinney Not Out Of The Woods Yet

2006-06-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

OK, the grand jury won't indict, the U.S. Attorney is gutless also...now it's our turn! The U.S. Capitol Police Labor Committee is demanding that the House Ethics Committee review Rep. Cynthia McKinney's conduct. Andrew Maybo, Chairman of the USCP Labor Committee apparently feels that U.S. Representatives should "conduct themselves at all times in a manner which shall reflect creditably on the House of representatives."

Huh. He must be new.

But there's more. Now, the Fraternal Order of Police is getting involved, as well. Just last month, the FOP released a statement that all "political policing on Capitol Hill must end." The press released followed the special treatment that House Dems. McKinney and Patrick Kennedy received after their little booboos. The FOP will now send a letter to the House Ethics Committee in hopes of gaining sanctions against Congresswoman McKinney. In case you're wondering, the FOP is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the world.

See folks, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. Oh, wait.... the fat won't be singing when it's over! Yes, that's it.

Here's more: Patrick Kennedy: Chip Off The Old Block; Another Democrat Skates; Adam Henry: Rep. Cynthia McKinney

Missing Soldiers Found Dead

2006-06-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

Stars & Stripes reports this morning that the two soldiers missing from a checkpoint in the "triangle of death" near Youssifiyah, Iraq, have been found dead. According to the report, the two soldiers had been "slaughtered" and "killed in a barbaric way." The two soldiers went missing on Friday, when their checkpoint was attacked. Spc. David Babineau was killed in the attack, and Pfcs. Kristian Menchaca and Thomas Tucker were kidnapped. All three soldiers were from the 101st Air Assault.

I salute your courage and sacrifice, brothers, and I hope that your families finds peace and solace in the fact that you served your country honorably and did your duty in a way that most of us will never have to.

Ward Churchill Update

2006-06-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

The gorgeous ALa at blonde sagacity has an update on our old buddy Ward Churchill: Bye Bye Ward... It seems that the University of Colorado has voted that our pal be fired for lying, cheating, stealing other people's work, etc., etc. It finally seems that UC has found the courage to go forward with this, now let's see if the schools chancellor will do the right thing and follow their recommendation. Of course, he'll probably find work at another far left-leaning school...

Here's my original post naming Churchill an Adam Henry: Adam Henry: Ward Churchill.

Coward Speaks With Forked Tongue

2006-06-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

Lt. Ehren Watada, the coward who has refused to go to Iraq with his unit, as ordered, recently traded email with Uncle Jimbo at BLACKFIVE. Take a minute to read the comments, too. And if you want to hear more from Watada, here's his website Thank You Lt. Ehren Watada. I don't know why you would want to, but there it is. The more I hear about this guy, the more I think that this thing was staged from the very beginning. I wonder if his email address on Blackfive's site is any good? Better watch your back, Eltee.

Here's my original post on the matter: Cowardice in Army Officer Corps.

al-Qaeda Still Active In U.S.

2006-06-18T23:09:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting Los Angeles Times story regarding an al Qaeda hydrogen-cyanide attack that was planned for the New York subway in 2003. According to some estimates, the attack would have killed as many people as the 9/11 plane hijackings. Just more chilling insight into how these people think. Makes you wonder what else bin Laden may be planning.

The article is based on an excerpt from the new book The One Percent Doctrine, written by former WSJ reporter Ron Suskind.

Elsewhere, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Pakistani Faheem Lodhi, 36, a Sydney architect, was found guilty of trying to blow up a national electricity grid in Australia in late 2003.

Just a reminder that these people are among us and planning things that we can never be prepared for. We are a long way from winning.

WWII Sub Finally Found

2006-06-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

The Navy says that a sub found at the bottom of the Gulf of Thailand is probably the USS Lagarto, which never returned from its mission in the waning days of WWII. The sub was sunk with the loss of all hands, some 86 sailors and officers. The Navy will make no attempt to retrieve the crew, considering the bottom of the sea to be a fitting final resting place for such brave men.

I don't know if you've ever been on a submarine, but I have and such duty is not for the faint of heart. We salute the courage of these brave men, and hope that this discovery lends some peace to their families.

Update on LAPD Officer

2006-06-17T18:48:00.001-07:00

Here's an update on Officer Kristina Ripatti, courtesy of DJ at LAPD.

Details of the original incident are here , courtesy of ABC News.

France approves new immigration bill

2006-06-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

Just for fun, let's look at France's new immigration policy, since they are so much more cultured and refined then we pedestrian Americans, via the BBC :

"PROPOSED NEW RULES:
Only the qualified get "skills and talents" residency permit
Foreigners only allowed in to work, not live off benefits
Foreign spouses to wait longer for residence cards
Migrants must agree to learn French
Migrants must sign 'contract' respecting French way of life
Scraps law on workers getting citizenship after 10 years"

Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy says that "France, like a number of other western countries, needs to choose the immigrants it needs."

I wonder if anyone in Congress or the White House saw this...

Another Democrat Skates

2006-06-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

In a statement released late Friday, a grand jury refused to indict Rep. Cynthia McKinney for battering a Capitol Hill Police Officer earlier this year. U.S. Attorney Kenneth Wainstein also lacked the guts to go forward, saying, "We respect the decision of the grand jury in this difficult matter."

Difficult matter? A member of the house refuses to adhere to security procedures, attempts to circumvent a check point, and then batters an officer when he tries to stop her. In front of witnesses, no less. Then McKinney lied about the incident, insisting initially that there had been no contact. She then called the matter "racial profiling" and blamed the officer.

And I think these are the same Democrats that are going to reclaim the moral high ground over the corrupt Republicans, right? And what does the rest of the house do? Nothing. Not a peep. No attempt to defend or back up the cops that are risking their lives to protect the House and its visitors. No demands that she resign. Nada. Maybe they all were too busy hiding bribe money in their freezers or drunkenly crashing barricades in a mad dash to "get to the House to vote" at 3 a.m.

Unfortunately, this type of thing is so normal for our politicians now that no one even bats an eye when these things happen. There is no public outcry because it is so commonplace. And the other politicians won't object because they are so immersed in the same corrupt system.

It's all about making money and getting votes, people. Nothing else matters.

More on Haditha

2006-06-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

I found these two great posts at The Captain's Journal. Check 'em out...

My Phone Discussion with Camp Pendleton and Marines in Shackles and The Common Man’s Perspective on Haditha .

Meanwhile, USATODAY reports that the initial investigation is over and the "voluminous" report been submitted to the U.S. Commander in Iraq.

Another Crooked Dem. Uses "R" Word

2006-06-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) was stripped of his committee seat today, and has already begun playing the race card, after Cynthia McKinney's recent fine example. Jefferson had refused previous requests to step down from the House Ways and Means Committee. For once, Nancy Pelosi, who lead the charge against Jefferson, was on the right side. However, Jefferson indicated that he was unfairly removed because he is black.

As you may recall, Jefferson has been implicated in a bribery probe after the FBI found $90,000 in cash wrapped in foil in his freezer, after they filmed him accepting a $100,000 bribe. Jefferson maintains his innocence.

Jefferson seems to have been cut loose by the Dems, who are attempting to seize the moral high ground before the next election, amid the Republican "culture of corruption". Huh.

More at Jo’s Cafe and Captain's Quarters.

House Rejects Iraq Pullout

2006-06-16T13:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, the Senate voted against pulling out of Iraq before the mission is competed. Today, after largely partisan debate, the House followed suit, saying that setting a timetable in Iraq is not in the best interests of the country. As usual, Nancy Pelosi had piped up, calling the Iraq war a "grotesque mistake" (Stars & Stripes story). However, 42 Democrats broke ranks and sided with the Republicans on this one.

Clearly, setting a timetable for any war is a major mistake, especially when the enemy would have that information within hours of the decision. If we set a timetable for troop withdrawals, the war would be lost. There would be no reason for the enemy to engage us, but rather they would sit back, reconstitute, and wait for us to leave. At the same time, we would have shown the whole world that the United States does not keep its word, does not fight to win and will not stay the course. And then we could start making preparations for Gulf War III.

We're in this one to win it, folks, and running away is not an option.

Happy Birthday U.S. Army!

2006-06-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

Today is Flag Day, a day to honor all who have served and lived under the most recognizable symbol of freedom the world has ever known. May she find a stiff breeze and an old warrior to salute her!

It's also the 231st birthday of the U.S. Army and the Infantry. Soldiers all over the world are hoisting a glass, trading coin checks, and remembering those who gave their lives so that we could see this day. I salute each and every one of you.

But of course, on such a day, the niceties must be observed. Therefore I offer the traditional toast:

I have ridden the skies in great machines, hooked up and jumped with the best of men. I have fought long and hard, and when I felt I had no energy left, I have been fired by the fear that if I stopped fighting, my comrades would die. And when I was in danger, enemy all around, I heard the thunder from my left and my right, as my life was defended. I have never been alone. I live, jump, fight and battle to victory with the greatest assemblage of men on earth. Gentlemen, to the BROTHERHOOD of the PARACHUTE INFANTRY.

To the PARACHUTE INFANTRY!

Congress Finally Agrees!!!

2006-06-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking....

They agreed on a pay raise for our military, so they don't have to live at the poverty level or use food stamps to feed their kids, right?

Now that would be something, but sadly, no.

OK, they agreed to close the northern and southern borders and revamp our immigration policies so that people cannot come here illegally, and if they are here illegally already, cannot get a job, right?

Well, also important, but again, no.

Well then, they must have agreed to pull their collective heads out of their collective asses and actually work together for once to accomplish something that actually has meaning for Americans everywhere, right? Please say yes!

Um. No.

They agreed (drumroll, please!) to give themselves a pay raise!!! Read it again. A cost of living pay raise of $3,300.00 a year, bringing their yearly salary to nearly $170,000.00. Now, raise your hand if you know a Special Forces soldier patrolling the mountains of Afghanistan looking for bin Laden that makes $170,000 a year. Or a street cop, working odd hours. Or a teacher, trying to help our children. Or firemen. Or truck drivers, or nurses, or anyone else who busts their hump to make this country great.

A cost of living pay raise, and for what? Do they actually do anything? I mean something besides driving drunk, or hitting cops, or taking bribes. I mean something substantive that helps the economy, or keeps us all safer, or saves social security.

And they wonder why voter turnout is so low. Absolutely amazing!

What Happened in Haditha?

2006-06-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a great read about the investigation of the conduct of the Marines at Haditha, posted at Power and Control: Blood Money . And more at blonde sagacity .

I guess it's time that I weighed in, too. I don't know what happened at Haditha, but I'm sure that we'll all find out eventually. I do know that those Marines deserve the benefit of the doubt until the investigation and trial, if there is one, are over. We sent them over there, and damnit, we need to support them. If they murdered innocent civilians, then they should stand trial and pay. But is that really what happened?

The number one rule of warfare is this: people die. Soldiers and citizens; the innocent and the guilty; the young and the old, all die. That's the reality of war, unfortunately. War cannot be waged in a vacuum. Our troops cannot go into urban areas and fight the enemy without causing some "collateral damage", especially when the enemy hides among the populace, doesn't wear uniforms and uses the innocent as shields. All the restraint in the world looks great on paper, but too much of a good thing gets men killed.

According to an attorney for one of the men being investigated, the Marines took fire from a house in an urban area. One of their number had already been killed. The Marines approached the house, tossed in grenades, and stormed the building, firing at whatever moved. Wouldn't you? Anyone who says they would have acted differently has never gone through a door into an unknown room in search of an enemy. This type of house-to-house fighting has been taught to the military for fifty-plus years. Does it benefit the troops making the assault? Yes. Do innocent civilians sometimes get killed as a result of it? Yes. Sad, but true.

And is there proof that these people were innocent? Kids and women can plant I.E.D.'s, too. And they can know that the devices are there and not warn approaching troops. And they can squeeze triggers. Is that what happened here?

So let's wait for the facts on this one, and give the benefit of the doubt to our Marines. They've certainly earned it.

At Least One Kennedy Admits Guilt

2006-06-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., pleaded guilty today to driving under the influence of prescription drugs stemming from a collision near the Capitol on May 4th, this year. In exchange for the guilty plea, he got some worthless, piddly-assed sentence that isn't even worth discussing here. But rest assured, it's not half of what you'll get if you're ever arrested for the same thing. Maybe next week he'll slap a Capitol Hill Police Officer, and get away with that, too.

But at least he didn't leave anyone to drown at the bottom of a river.

Yet.

Guantanamo Bay in the Spotlight

2006-06-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

Three Gitmo detainees hanged themselves Monday amid more demands that the U.S. close the detention facility in Cuba. Two of the detainees were from Saudi Arabia, the third from Yemen. And just for grins, here's what the Arab News had to say about it. Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democrats no. 2 guy, demanded that the facility be closed, comparing it to the regimes of Pol Pot, Stalin and Hitler. Durbin actually said "... you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners." Ah, but what proof, Senator?

But in the words of Michelle Malkin, who appeared on Fox News The O'Reilly Factor tonight, commenting on the suicides, "Boo-freaking-Hoo"

These people are terrorists who advocate suicide as a way to get their message across. They blow themselves up to make a point, to hopefully sway public opinion. And locked up in a secure detention facility like Gitmo, there is only one way to wage your war: suicide. Although not as spectacular as killing dozens of innocent men, women and children, it is the only tool they have. So they hang themselves in hopes that they can put more pressure on the U.S. and get people like Sen. Durbin to badmouth our country. Mission accomplished.

We need Gitmo. These people are the enemy and they need to be locked up in a remote, secure facility until they can be dealt with. Otherwise, out troops will be fighting them again and again.

Here's more from Jo's Cafe: Where are the Protests?

Protect "Old Glory"

2006-06-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

During the week of June 26, before Congress breaks for its July 4th recess, they will vote on S.J. Res. 12, an amendment that says, "Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." According to some polls, 80% of Americans support the protection of our flag, but there are still those in Congress that are against amending the Constitution to reflect that support. Stated simply, this amendment would correct the unbelievable position of the Supreme Court, which ruled that flag burning is free speech.

So, write/call/e-mail/fax/visit your Senators and demand that they support this amendment, proposed by Sen. Bill Frist (see his proposal) . Also, support the American Legion, which stays on top of such things.

As for my part, in 1976 I was a kid whose mother was a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, so we used to watch all of their games or highlights. On April 25th, a Dodger home game vs. the Chicago Cubs, two scumbags jumped from the stands and tried to burn an American flag in the outfield to protest who-knows-what (see: Chicago Cubs News ). But Rick Monday, Marine Corps veteran and then a Cubs outfielder, rushed the two clowns, grabbed the flag and took it to the bullpen. Which really turned out to be a lucky thing for the protesters, because L.A. Dodgers Coach Tommy Lasorda was running towards them from the dugout and, according to some, he "had murder in his eyes." Good old Tommy would have given those assholes the old what-fer! (here's a great post on the incident from Captain's Quarters). The incident is now rated one of the greatest moments in baseball history, and a photo of Rick running with the flag won a Pulitzer Prize. And Rick Monday displays that flag in his home to this day. If that story doesn't mist your eyes, move immediately to France!

But if that doesn't do it, here's a quote from Alvin M. Owsley, VMI graduate, WWI veteran and American Legion plank-owner:

Respect the Flag
When you see the Stars and Stripes displayed, son, stand up and take off your hat. Somebody may titter. It is in the blood of some to deride all expression of noble sentiment. You may blaspheme in the street and stagger drunken in public places, and the bystanders will not pay much attention to you; but if you should get down on your knees and pray to Almighty God, or if you should stand bareheaded while a company of old soldiers marches by with flags to the breeze, some people will think you are showing off.
But don't you mind! When Old Glory comes along, salute, and let them think what they please! When you hear the band play "The Star-Spangled Banner" while you are in a restaurant or hotel dining room, get up even if you rise alone; stand there and don't be ashamed of it, either!
For of all the signs and symbols since the world began there is none other so full of meaning as the flag of this country. That piece of red, white and blue bunting means five thousand years of struggle upward. It is the full-grown flower of ages of fighting for liberty. It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.
Your flag stands for humanity, for an equal opportunity to all the sons of men. Of course we haven't arrived yet at that goal; there are many injustices yet among us, many senseless and cruel customs of the past still clinging to us, but the only hope of righting the wrongs of men lies in the feeling produced in our bosoms by the sight of that flag.
Other flags mean a glorious past, this flag a glorious future. It is not so much the flag of our fathers as it is the flag of our children, and of all children's children yet unborn. It is the flag of tomorrow. It is the signal of the "Good Time Coming." It is not the flag of your king—it is the flag of yourself and of all your neighbors.
Don't be ashamed when your throat chokes and the tears come, as you see it flying from the masts of our ships on all the seas or floating from every Flagstaff of the Republic. You will never have a worthier emotion. Reverence it as you would reverence the signature of the Deity. Listen, son! The band is playing the national anthem—"The Star-Spangled Banner!" They have let loose Old Glory yonder. Stand up—and others will stand with you.
This tribute to the flag is offered to the country in appeal to all men and women of all races, colors and tongues, that they may come to understand that our flag is the symbol of liberty and learn to love it.

Hooyah! Damnit, I promised myself I wouldn't cry!

LAPD Officer Needs Help

2006-06-09T23:42:00.000-07:00

In some ways, being a cop is a lot tougher than serving in the military, but one thing is certainly the same: the camaraderie. So naturally when something like this LAPD Blog: Los Angeles Police Officer Critically Injured in Shooting with Armed Robbery Suspect happens, I get extremely pissed off. Some scumbag, third-strike, violent repeat offender shoots an outstanding young cop over a gas station robbery. To make matters worse, the suspect ran right in front of their unit before the robbery had even been reported. The two officers literally had no idea what this Adam Henry had just done when he turned and fired on them.

Officer Ripatti, whose husband is also an LAPD Officer and rolled on the "11-99, Officer Down" call, is still in very serious condition. If you are interested in helping, you can make a donation or attend a fundraiser on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 (courtesy of LAPD Wife ) .

Our troops overseas aren't the only ones in the line of fire.

America Wins One

2006-06-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a great post on BLACKFIVE about the demise of Zarqawi. Seems like the only ones who are upset about our getting him are the "yes, buts" on the left. "Yes, we got him, BUT (insert anti-war/anti-Bush/anti-military rhetoric here). More raids are going on all around Baghdad and the prospect of more intel looms large, especially with the recovery of hardrives and flashdrives found with a-Z.

We haven't won the war by a long shot, but maybe we've made it a little shorter.

BLACKFIVE: Not Just One Pilot

al-Zarqawi Meets SOF Troops

2006-06-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

Task Force 145 troopers, two Air Force F-16's and pilots, associated intel, support and command staff and equipment, courtesy of the U.S. military, classified.

One SOF/LAM laser designator, courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer, approximately $85,000.00.

One GBU-12 and one GBU-38 laser guided bombs, courtesy of the American taxpayer, approximately $45,000.00

Learning that the megalomaniac zealot, mass-murderer and wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi recognized the blue-eyed infidel U.S. SOF troops that just blew his ass up before he died....PRICELESS!

Airstrike Kills al-Zarqawi

2006-06-08T05:25:00.000-07:00

The U.S. reports that the terrorist and seven aides were killed in an airstrike near Baghdad last night. Although details are still coming in, it appears someone, possibly a resident in the area, gave up al-Zarqawi's location and will be collecting $25 million dollars. His body was identified by appearance and fingerprints.

al-Zarqawi had been the prime target in Iraq for sometime and was at the very top of the "Tango Dance Card". Experts had considered him the number two man in Al-Qaeda, but apparent disagreements recently with Osama bin Hidin' indicate that al-Zarqawi might have been after the top dog spot. So close and yet so far.

Enjoy martyrdom, scumbag!

McKinney Making a Deal?

2006-06-07T22:36:00.000-07:00

No wonder there are so many crooks in politics.

According to the AJC, (McKinney deal may be in works ) prosecutors are talking with Rep. Cynthia McKinney behind the scenes, attempting to work out a deal that would keep her from facing charges for assaulting a Capitol Hill Police Officer earlier this year. Apparently, the federal prosecutors in the case can't find the guts to file charges against McKinney and the grand jury doesn't seem anxious to hand down an indictment, either.

I don't know if this pisses me off more as a police officer or as an American citizen. To think that someone battered a police officer and didn't get arrested (after being released from the hospital, that is) amazes me. If our elected politicians won't obey the law, won't observe security restrictions that are in place for everyone's safety and cannot be held accountable for their actions, what hope is there for the future of this democracy? Where is the outrage among her peers? Why aren't they calling for her arrest and prosecution?

McKinney has already shown that she is willing and eager to play the "race card", so the prosecutors, grand jury, Capitol Hill Police Staff and her especially her peers in Congress bury their heads in the sand and wait for it to blow over. And remember, these are our elected officials! No wonder yesterday saw the lowest voter turnout in years.

Night Stalker Appeals Sentence

2006-06-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

Convicted murder Richard "Night Stalker" Ramirez is appealing his death sentence on the grounds that his counsel failed to properly defend him during his 1989 trial. If ever someone deserved to die, it's this guy. See the story of Ramirez' trial here.

Cowardice in Army Officer Corps

2006-06-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Times reports that a Ft. Lewis Army Lieutenant has refused to deploy to Iraq, as ordered. In a statement, Lt. Ehren Watada actually said "The wholesale slaughter and mistreatment of the Iraqi people with only limited accountability is not only a terrible moral injustice, but a contradiction to the Army's own Law of Land Warfare. My participation would make me party to war crimes." Unbelievable. This guy volunteers for the Army, the Infantry, and to serve as an officer, but now, when ordered to deploy, suddenly objects. This from a volunteer who joined after the war began. And interestingly, his father fled the country to avoid the Vietnam draft. I guess cowardice runs in the family. Enjoy Leavenworth, scumbag. And while you're making big rocks into little rocks, and little rocks into dust, another officer will serve in your place.

Marine's Family Sues Funeral Protesters

2006-06-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

The father of Marine LCpl. Matthew A. Snyder, who died in an accident while serving in Iraq last month, has filed a lawsuit against the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, for defamation and invasion of privacy, because churchmembers/anti-gay protesters picketed his sons funeral. You can help and/or donate to the cause by visiting Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder. Let's support these folks, and any other likeminded families of slain veterans, and stop these scumbags before they cause any more pain.